Latin literature - Attic nights

Apion, qui Plistonices appellatus est, litteris homo multis praeditus rerumque Graecarum plurima atque varia scientia fuit.

Apion, who was called Plistonices, was a man knowledgeable about much learning and an extensive and varied knowledge of Greek things.

eius libri non incelebres feruntur, quibus omnium ferme quae mirifica in Aegypto visuntur audiunturque historia comprehenditur.

His books, in which an account of all the wonderful things seen and heard in Egypt is containted, are not to be said without fame.

hoc autem, quod in libro Aegyptiacorum quinto scripsit, neque audisse neque legisse, sed ipsum sese in urbe Roma vidisse oculis suis confirmat. 

He confirms this himself that he had neither heard nor read this however which he wrote in his fifth book on Egyptians but he had seen it with his own eyes in the city or Rome

"In circo maximo," inquit, "venationis amplissimae pugna populo dabatur.

“In the greatest stadium,” he said, “a fight consisting of a very lavish hunt was being given to the people.

eius rei, Romae cum forte essem, spectator," inquit, "fui.

I was a spectator of this thing when i was in rome by chance,” he said

multae ibi saevientes ferae, magnitudines bestiarum excellentes, omniumque invisitata aut forma erat aut ferocia.

There were many savage beasts, many beasts of excellent sizes, and all of unseen appearance or unseen ferocity

sed praeter alia omnia leonum," inquit, "immanitas admirationi fuit praeterque omnis ceteros unus.

But above all the others was one lion” he said “whose vast size amazed all the rest

is unus leo corporis impetu et vastitudine terrificoque fremitu et sonoro, toris comisque cervicum fluctuantibus animos oculosque omnium in sese converterat.  

This one lion turned the minds and eyes of everyone upon himself with the power and vast size of his body, with his terrifying and loud roar, with his muscles and with his flowing mane

introductus erat inter compluris ceteros ad pugnam bestiarum datus servus viri consularis; ei servo Androclus nomen fuit.

A slave of a man of a consular rank was brought in amoung several others given to the fight of the beast. The slave’s name was Androclus.

hunc ille leo ubi vidit procul, repente," inquit, "quasi admirans stetit ac deinde sensim atque placide tamquam noscitabundus ad hominem accedit.

When that lion saw this man” he said “ suddenly, he stood still as if amazed and then he gradually and quietly approached the man as if recognising him.

tum caudam more atque ritu adulantium canum clementer et blande movet hominisque se corpori adiungit cruraque eius et manus prope iam exanimati metu lingua leniter demulcet.

Then the lion moved his tail gently and caressingly in the manner and way of dogs showing affection and brought himself close to the body of the man and with his tongue he licked the legs and hands of the man who was nearly half dead from fear.

homo Androclus inter illa tam atrocis ferae blandimenta amissum animum recuperat, paulatim oculos ad contuendum leonem refert.

The man Androclus, among those caresses of so fierce a beast, had recovered the spirit which he lost, gradually he brought his eyes back to look at the lion.

tum quasi mutua recognitione facta laetos," inquit, "et gratulabundos videres hominem et leonem." 

Then “ he said” you might have seen the man and the lion happy and sharing joyful exchanges as if with mutual recognition having happened

ea re prorsus tam admirabili maximos populi clamores excitatos dicit accersitumque a Caesare Androclum quaesitamque causam, cur illi atrocissimus leo uni parsisset.

By that so completely astonishing thing, he greatest shouts of the people were raised and androclus was summened by ceasar and asked for a cause, why the lion had spared only him.

ibi Androclus rem mirificam narrat atque admirandam.

Then Androclus told a wonderful and amazing story.

"cum provinciam," inquit, "Africam proconsulari imperio meus dominus obtineret, ego ibi iniquis eius et cotidianis verberibus ad fugam sum coactus et, ut mihi a domino, terrae illius praeside, tutiores latebrae forent, in camporum et arenarum solitudines concessi ac, si defuisset cibus, consilium fuit mortem aliquo pacto quaerere.

“When my master was in control of the African province with proconsular power” he said “there I was forced to flee by my his unjust and daily beatings, and in order that I might have had safer hiding places from my master, ruler of that land, I withdrew into the loneliness of the plains and deserts and if food ran out, the plan was to search for death in some way.

tum sole medio," inquit, "rabido et flagranti specum quandam nanctus remotam latebrosamque in eam me penetro et recondo.

Then at midday” he said “with the sun raging and scorching, I made my way into a certain remote and secluded cave which I found and I hid in it.

neque multo post ad eandem specum venit hic leo debili uno et cruento pede gemitus edens et murmura dolorem cruciatumque vulneris commiserantia." 

Not long after, this lion came to the same cave with one weak and bloodstained paw, giving out groans and murmering, seeking pity for the pain and suffering of the wound.

atque illic primo quidem conspectu advenientis leonis territum sibi et pavefactum animum dixit.

And indeed, at that first sight of the lion coming to him, his soul was afraid and frightened he said.

"sed postquam introgressus," inquit, "leo, uti re ipsa apparuit, in habitaculum illud suum, videt me procul delitescentem,

“But after it entered” he said “As it appeared, into into its own dwelling place, it saw me hiding far away.

mitis et mansues accessit et sublatum pedem ostendere mihi et porrigere quasi opis petendae gratia visus est.

It approached gently and tamely and it seemed to show and stretch out its raised paw to me as if in order to seek for help.

ibi," inquit, "ego stirpem ingentem vestigio pedis eius haerentem revelli conceptamque saniem volnere intimo expressi accuratiusque sine magna iam formidine siccavi penitus atque detersi cruorem.

There” he said “I pulled out a huge splinter, sticking in the sole of his foot and I pressed out the pus from the inside of the wound and I rather carefully dried the pus and now without much fear I wiped away the blood throroughly.

illa tunc mea opera et medella levatus pede in manibus meis posito recubuit et quievit, atque ex eo die triennium totum ego et leo in eadem specu eodemque et victu viximus.

Then relieved by my attention and treatment, after he placed his paw in my hands, he lay down and went to sleep, and from that day, for a full 3 years, the lion and I lived in the same cave with the same food.

nam, quas venabatur feras, membra opimiora ad specum mihi subgerebat, quae ego ignis copiam non habens meridiano sole torrens edebam.

For the lion brought the better parts of the wild beasts which he hunted to the cave for me, not having a source of fire, I was eating these things roasting in the midday sun.

me," inquit, "vitae illius ferinae iam pertaesum est, leone in venatum profecto reliqui specum et viam ferme tridui permensus a militibus visus adprehensusque sum et ad dominum ex Africa Romam deductus.

But when I now grew tired of that wild life, with the lion having set out onto a hunt, I left the cave and having travelled for almost 3 days, I was seen and captured by soldiers and led from Africa to Rome, to my master.

is me statim rei capitalis damnandum dandumque ad bestias curavit.

He had me condemned to death and given to the beasts at once.

intellego autem," inquit, "hunc quoque leonem me tunc separato captum gratiam mihi nunc beneficii et medicinae referre."

However I understand” he said “that with me then separated, this lion also having been captured, is now giving thanks to me for my kindness and treatment.

haec Apion dixisse Androclum tradit eaque omnia scripta circumlataque tabula populo declarata atque ideo cunctis petentibus dimissum Androclum et poena solutum leonemque ei suffragiis populi donatum.

Apion records that Androclus had said these things and all these things, having been written and carried around on a tablet, were made known to the people and therefore Androclus, with everybody seeking for it, was set free and let off from punishment and the lion was given to him by the votes of the people

"postea," inquit,"videbamus Androclum et leonem loro tenui revinctum urbe tota circum tabernas ire, donari aere Androclum, floribus spargi leonem, omnes ubique obvios dicere: 'hic est leo hospes hominis, hic est homo medicus leonis.'"

“Afterwards” Apion said “we used to see Androclus and the lion, tied up with a thin leash, going around all the shops, Androclus being given money and the lion was showered with flowers and everyone who met them everywhere used to say “this is the lion who us the friend of a man. This is the man who is the doctor of a lion”